Tractor



F. C. UN.

` TRACTOR.

APPLICATTDN FILED APH.. 26, 1916. 1,366,413.

2 SHEETS SHEET l.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

// le "U Q7 Qcrf La F. C. ULIN.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APII. 25. me.

1,366,413, i Patent/ed Jan. 25, 1921.

2 SHETS-SHEET 2.

FRED c. oLxN, or BUFFALO,

0F BUFFALO,I NEW YORK.

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOQI TO OLIN GAS ENGINE COMPANY, l

A CURPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TBACTOF To all whom C ma y concern:

Be ,it known that Finali C. 01.15', a citizen of the VUnited Statt-s,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State. of Xew York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Tractors, of which thefollowinpr is a specication.

This invention relates to a tractor or traction engine for hauling heavyloads over rough ground and more particularly to tractors in which adrivingf endless-belt tread i employed.

Une of thc objects of this ii'ivention is to provide a tractor in whichthe ground grip ping member so iiiouiited Ia.l to be capable of swingingabout horizontal longitudinal and transverse axes relatively to the mainor chassis frame of the tractor so to accommodate itself to the contourof the ground being traversed and to thereby obtain a maxi mii-niti'activi cii'ort andtoprovide a driving lendless belt tread structurewhich will con stantly bear upon the ground with its entire trairtivesurface. and also provide a .strong and simple driving mechanism whichwill allow the tractor to be'ieadily reversed.

Another object of this invention is'to pro vide .sirril'ileandl elicientmeans for mounting; the stecrin, Y w aeels of the tractor oii thefran'icand connecting the saine with the operating nicchaiiisiii so thatthey can be read-- 'ilv at'ljustcd transversely on the main frame forobtaining the desired gagic"or track of these (Ftieels.- i

In tie accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation o provedtractor with a iortion broltcn away. section there of taken on line 2-2.Fig. Fig. #Tis atop planvicw of the same. Fig; L is a front ele vationofthe tractor. on an, enlargedlscale. Fi lr. 5 is a vertical transversesection. on an le i-arged scal'estakcn `Online 5-5 Fig. l.

'Iig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical transverse `section taken on line (14),

Fig. 2.' Fig. 7 is a fraf'meiitary horizontal section, on an en'-`largediscale. taken on line 7?, Fig. 5.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding partsthroughoutthe several 1 Ws.

'e main.. or chassis frame of the tractor ogn suitable form but thatsiown j tekl pgoterable and comprises two specification of Leiters'raient.

Patented J an. 25, 1921.

Application tiled April 26, 1916. Serial No. 3,621.

longitudinal sills or bars l, 1 positioned side by side and securedtogether by means of the horizontal tie plates 2 and 3 arrangedtransversely at the front and rear ends respectively of the longitudinalbars. This frame is supported at one end preferabl its rear end by o.ground gripper 4 refera ly of the caterpillar type and also y one ormore steering and supportin wheels 5--5 which are preferably mounte onthe forward end 'sfeof the chassis frame, as shown. In the preferredconstruction said forward steering supportingr wheels 5 are so arrangedon the frame that the transverse distance gage or track between them maybe varied to suit the articularnature of the ground traverser this beingdesirable because the tractor is more particularl designed for haulingdifferent kinds'of arming machinery over the 'soil in its various stagesof cultivation.'

This is accomplished by providingtwo` hori :tontal axle sections or bars6? 6, each 0f which carries one of the supporting wheels at its outerend and which may be adjusted transversely relatively to the chassisframe and firmly secured thereto. Each of said axle sections ispreferably also connected adjacent to'its outer endwith the chassisironie bv means of a thrust rod 7 which is pvtally connected with itsforward end to the .outer end of said axle section and pivotallyconnected at its rear endto the main frame so as to be capable ofSwingin r horizontally and transversely1 relatively to t e main frameand axle. iiyadjusting thedistance between the forward steering orsupporting wheelsandstill transverse alinement, 'be- -retaining them inhis construction permits of redi sides relievingr the backwardthruststorwhich i the axle sections are subjected.

'I he inner ends of the axle sections or bars are preferably arrangedone behind the other and the Lipper side of the front part of the mainframe and are adjustably connectedv with each other and with the mainframe by two clips FS engaging with the upper sides of the axle bars or'sections and two upright clamping: bolts 9 arranged between the overlapiin'g parts of said axle barsor sections anc each connecting one of theclips with the ad'acent part of themain'frame.

ach ofthe steerin wheels isA mountedinr i05 a steering fork 1Q winchlatter is provided at,

its upper end with ii pivot or stem 11 which is journaled in an uprighthearing 12 in the outer end of one of the axle sections. The twosteering wheels are caused to turn in unison b two rock iii-ms 13, 13projecting rearward y from the fork pivots 11 and two shifting rodsections 14 pivotally connected at their outer ends, respectively, with`the rear ends ofthe steering arms 13 while their inner ends overla eachother,and are adjustably connecte b collars l5 embracing said shiftin rrods` an d clampin r or set screws 16 arrange in said collars anoperating to secure said shiftin r rods together.

The vsteering o the tractor along the ground is accomplished by turninga hand wheel 17 which rotates .a steering shaftlS that is provided withan 1i'ipwardly extendin arm 19. The steering shaft ,18-is. journallengthwise in suitable bearings on "the 'main frame and the arm. 19projects upwardly from the front end thereof; The steering wheel 17 ismounted on the u per end o an upright steering shaft 20 w vlicliisjournale in a suitable bearing inthe rear part of the main frame andmotion may be transmitted from this upright steering shaft 20.

to the horizontal steerin shaft 18 by means of a worm 21 arrange on thelower end of the upright shaft 20 and meshing with a worin gear se lent22 on the rear end of the horizontal 'shaft 18, iis shown in Figs. 2 and6. Pivotally connected to the upper end of the arm 19 is a'. connectingrod 23 which, inturn.l is pivotally connected to one of the clam 'ingcollars 15. The rod sections 14 may be rst adjusted longitudinallyrelatively to each other and then secured rigidly together, thuspermittin the forward supporting wheels to be` a ined so that their axesare parallel, irrespective of what the trans-verse distance between themmay be.

Adjacent to the tread belt or ground gripper and'secured to the chassisframeare two upwardl extending brackets 24 which are arrangedy onebehind the other and which are provided at their upper en ds withlongitudinal bearings 25 arran 'ed in longitudinal alineinerit. Betweensai brackets 24 arranged ak-ginbal -or swivel body 26wh1ch is rovidedatits front and rear-enlswith ho]- ow pivot` arms ortrunnions 27` whichVare journaled inthe bearings'25, thereby permitting said imbal orswivel bofdy toswing transverselr about a horizontal axis relatively tothe chassis frame. 0n its laterally opposite sides the gimbal body isprovidedv with depending arms 28 whic swing with said gimbipl and4profeet downwardly, along op l'site 'sidesof e main traine That beitorlround grpgrlft is .due to the universal io.,

driven wheel is j'ournaled 'flanged ide naled ground gr pper to swin'vertically about a orizontal axis relatiiY to seid gimbal body. LIt.will now be ent that said groundngripper inay swing verticallyrelatively l the main frame about horizontal longitudinal' andtransverseitxes, this being t or connection which the swivel body ormebetween the main frame and the ground gripper by this or anizationpf theparts.; L

he'groundedgripper comprises a gri )per f rame arrang below the rear arto the main framev and havi two sie pieces 30 arranged lengthwise si elbside'and cross pieces 31 connecting the si e pieces. About midwaybetween its front an'd rear ends and its to and bottom the ripper frameis provide with transverse earin rs 32 in wlieh the pivot shaft 29 is'ourna ed and forms a pivotal -connection etween the gripper frame andthe swivel or 'girnbal frame.

Between the side pieces of the griiper frame is arranged a tread belt ofen( less form which o'om rises a plurality of pivot4 ally connectedlinks, shoes or sections 33 and this beltis so disposed that it forms iilower horizontal operative stretch, an upper horizontal inoperativestietch and front und rear turns connecting said upper and lou-erstretches. This tread belt passes with its front and rear turnsv aroundfront and rear wheels 34, 35. which are mounted respectively ontransverse shafts 36, 37 which are journaled in suitable bearings on thefront and r ar parts of the side pieces of, the gri pper f ame. Thefront wheel 34 ispreferabl y driven by the tread belt and provided withu plain periphery which is engaged by the inner side of this belt. Therear wheel, 35.

however, serves as the drivel' of this belt and for this purpose isprovided on fits periphery with gear teeth 38 which mesh with transversepins 39 mounted onthe inner side ofthe tread belt, as shown in F ig. 5.That this belt tread ma always be taut around the driving and fri-venwheels 35,84' the forward transverse sha-ft 36 -u ion. which the spreferably pressed forward yieldingly by ineens of two,compression-springs 40 whose rear ends beniagainst the front end of thegripper frame and whose forward 'ends press againstthe heads oftwoadjusting rods 41 which are secured respectively to journal boxes 42sliding inlongitiidinafguideways 43 on the grip r frame and receiving oposite ends of te transverse shaft 36 o the driven wheel 34, .While they:are not essential, fouiwheels 44 are preferably jonrverse. shafts 45 intheg'ripper frame for t purpoeottakin the upward ypressure ex` rted agaithe o'wer stretch of the trea belt. T esefanged Aaide d wheels also, yin the gripper frame, being provided with laterally projecting annularflanges 46 which are adapted to engage with the outer side of the lugsor shoulders et? arranged on the.

inner side of the sections 33 of said tread belt.

.lournalcd transversely in the gripper frame and elosc'to the pivotshaft29 is an intermediate shaft 48 provided centrally with a small gearwheel 4E) which is adapted to mesh with the teeth 38 of the drivingrgear wheel 35, said intermediate shaft being,r also provided on one ofits outer ends with a large sprocket wheel 50. Thus by turning: saidlarge sprocket wheel, the driving wheel will be caused to rotate and thelatter will in turn drive the tread belt thereb v causing the wholetractor to be propelled while the lower stretch of the tread beltengages with the ground.

n the upper part of the gimbal body is journaled a transverse drivingrshaft 5t which is provided at one of its ends ivith a small sprocketwheel 52. A chain bell: 53 passes around both said small sprocket wheel52 and the large sprocket Wheel 5t) ot the intermediate shaft 48, thuscausing both sprockets to rotate in unison. Slidably mounted on saidtransverse driving shaft 51, as best shown in Fig. 5. is a container orcage :'54 and rotating in said cagnes a single unit. are two inwardlyfacing. driven i bevel gears 55, 56 both ot' which are secured to asliding sleeve 5T which is splined on said transverse shaft so as to becompelled sani spring (Si vieldmgly pushes upwardly to turn with thisshaft but be capable oi: sliding longitudinally along the same. The cage54 does not rotate continuously with the shaft 51 but may be partiallyrotated on the same b v means ot a longitudinal shiftingsrod 5S mountedon the gimbal body so as to be slidable lengthwise. thereon. Thisshifting rod is provided intern'lediate of its length with a verticalslot which engages a transverse tie bar that connects the two upperportions, ot' the end plates'of sa: l cage :"i-l. .\ccrnnpan vin; r thispartial rotation of the rage on the drivingr shaft is a longitudinalmovement along: the axis of the same. This is preferably acconnilishedby securing to cach of the end plates of said cage a flat. rim or ring(l1 which is provided with the two inclined wedge faces that are adaptcdtri engage a pair ot' inwardly projectingr lusfs G-'l lormcd on thegimbal body. so that when the rage is rotated b v means oi' the,shifting rod these wedge fares ride upon their respective coiiperatinglugs and cause the cage to move longitudinally along the driving shaft.inasmuch as there is a pair of wedge faces on either longitudinal end ofthe ca ge 54 it follows that a properhiovemjent of the shiftin .rod 58will positively m'ove said cage with 1 i accompanying set of gears intoany deinen positi'on along the axis of the driving shaft and hold it inthat position.

Longitudinally journaled on the chassis frame is a motor shaft 64 inlongitudinal aiinement with thediearings 2? which constitute theprincipal axis of the gimhal body 26. The rear end of said motor shaftis provided with a driving bevel gear which is adapted to mesh witheither of the driven bevel gears 55, 56 on the sliding sleeve This motorshaft is driven by a gasolene engine (i6 or other source of power whichmay be mounted in the forward part of the chassis frame. It is evidentthat by manipulating the shifting rod 58 either one or the other orneither of the driven bevel gears 55. 56 may be engaged with thedrivin;r bevel gear 65 so that the tractor may, at will. be drivenahead, reversed or allowed to stand idle with themotor rotating. Thedriving y or propellinglr force which is transmitted b v the chain beltin the arrangement shown in the drawings, tends somewhat to tilt thegripper frame relatively to the chassis frame and although this torqueaction may be eliminated by employing other forms of power drives, thearrangngnwnt shown is commercially preferable. This tiltirner action iscompensated for b v a 4spring GT which may be a compression spring.mounted as shown adjacent to the rear end of the, gripper frame andhearing with its lower face against the upper side oi the chassis frame.The upper end of a pull rod (i9 which is connected at its lower end bv aball jointed link 69 with a rear cross ba r 31 of the gripper frame.

The tractor is thus seen to be readily adjustable to do the particularWork it has to perform most effectively. the entire bottom of the treadbelt will always be in contact with the ,around so that the tractor willpull the heaviest of loads steadily over verv rough ground. the heavybending side strainon the tread belt are largely eliminated dml to thepivotal isuspension and the trat-tor mavalso be readily reversed orentirely thrown out of gear.

l claim as my? invention:

1. tractor comprising a main trame. an `engine arranged on the mainframe. a ground gripper ha ving a gripper frame and a movable tread. auniversal connection between the traine of the ground gripper and .saidmain traine comprisingr a body pivot/'ed on said main frame. and meansfor transmitting: motion 'from said engine to Said tread having?r arotary member arranged concentric-ally with the pivotal connectionbetween said main frame and 4said body.

2. A tractor comprising a main frame, an

ground gripper having a gripper frame and a movable tiead, a universalconnection between the frame ot' the ground'gripper and Said main frameromprising a body pivotally connected with said main frame on an axisarranged lengthwise and horizontally and aiso pivotally connected withsaid grip per frame on an axis arranged horizontally and transversely,and means for transmitting motion from said engine to said tread havinga. rotary member arranged concentrically with the pivotal ronneetionbetween said main frame and said body.

A tractor comprising a main frame. an engine mounted on said maintrame.y a. for ward supporting wheel mounted on said main frame, a rearground gripper, a gimbal 'body provided with two axes perpendicular toeach other one of which remains in eonstant relation with the main frameand the other of which remains in constant relation with said rearground gripper, said gimbal body connecting said main frame with saidrear ground gripper, and means for transmitting motion from lsaid engineto said'rear ground gripper having a rotary member journaledcoueentrieally with the pivotal connection between said main frame andsaid gimbal body.

4. A tractor comprising a main frame. a gimbai body pivoted on saidframe` a. motor shaft jonrnaled on said frame,y a driving shaft mountedin said girnbal body on an axis perpendirular to the axis of the pivotalconnect-ion between said main frame and the gimhal body. and means tortransmitting power from Said motor shaft to said driving shaft.

5. A tractor comprising a main frame. a forward supporting wheel mountedon said frame, a rear ground gripper. a gimbal body'provided with twoaxes perpendieular to each other. one ol' which remains in eonstantrelation with the frame and the other of w lich remains in eonstantrelation with the said ground gripper. a' driving shaft journaled in thegimhal body, and means for transmitting powerto said ground gripper fromsaid driving shaft.

G. A tractor comprising a main frame. a forward supporting wheel mountedon said trame. a` gimbai body journaled on said frame, a tilting framepivoted to said gimbal bodyxa ground gripper mounted on the tiltingframe. means for driving said ground gripper and a spring interposedbetween said tilting frame and the main frame.

'i'. A tractor comprising a. main frame. a gimbal body journaled on saidframe. a tilting ramepivoted to said body, a driving shaft rotatablymounted in sind body on an axis which is perpendicular to the axis ofth'pivotal connection between said main frame and the gimbal body, amotor shaft journaled on said frame, and means for transmitting powerfrom said motor shaft to said driving shaft.

8. A tractor comprising a main trame, a forward supporting wheel mountedon said frame, a driving shaft, a gimbal body provided with two axesperpendicular to each other one of which remains in ronstant. relationwith the main frame and the other of which remains in constant relationwith the axis of said driving shaft, a motor shaft journaled in saidgimbal body perpendicular to'a plane passing through the axis of saidintermediate shaft, a ground gripper mounted on said gimbal body, saiddriving shaft and means for transmitting power from said motor shaft tosaid driving shaft and also from said driving shaft to said groundgripper.

9. A tractor comprising a main frame, a vforward supporting wheelmounted on said frame. a gilnbal body having two substantiallyhorizontal bearings perpendicular to each other, a motor shaft journaledin the main trame and in one of the bearings of the gimbal body,adriving shaft journaled in tht` other bearing of the gimbal body, an armdepending from said body, a tilting frame pivoted to the lower end ofsaid arm, a ground gripper mounted on said tilting frame, and means fortransmitting power from the motor shait to said driving shaft and thenceto the ground gripper.

10. A tractor comprising a` mainframe, a forward supporting wheelmounted on said frame, a girnbal body horizontally journaled in saidframe, a driving shaft journaled in said body peipendicular to the axisof the pivotal efmneetion between said body and main trame, a motorshaft iournaled in said body in liney with the axis ot' the pivotalconnection between said body and main frame and provided with a drivinggear, two driven gears slidably mounted on said driving shaft either ofwhich may be caused to mesh with the driving gear, a ground grippermounted'on the gimb'al body, and means t'or transmitting power from saiddriving shaft to said ground gripper.

il. A tractor comprising a main frame, a gimbai body pivoted on saidframe, a tilting frame pivoted to said body, a driving wheel and adriven wheel journaled in said frame on which are perpendicular to theaxis of the pivotal connection between said main frame and said body, a`tread belt passing around said driving and driven wheels. and means fordriving said driving wheel.

l2. A tra or comprising a main frame, a motor shaft journaled on saidframe, a gimbal body journaled on said main frame axially in line withsaid motor shaft and provided with a depending arm, a tilting framepivoted on said arm on an axis perpendiculai' to theaxis of the pivotalconnection between said main frame and said body, a. driving and a.driven wheel pivotally mount od on said tilting;r frame `and havingtheir axes parallel with the pivotal connection be- 'tween said bodyandthetlting fame, a

driving Shaft journaled in said body paral lei with the axis of thedriving Wheei, a supplemental shaft' journnlvd transversely in 10 thetilting frame, :i area51 belt. pasin r aroiind Suid driving and drivenwheels, :mii moans for tunsmitting power fl'om said motor shaftsuvuvssivyly to Said driving shaf, supplemental shaft and the driving`wheel. 1a

FRED C. CLIN.

